Coffee brewer

ABSTRACT

A coffee brewer including a feed head for supplying pressurized brewing water to a perforated platen pressed against a packet of coffee bean grind to force such fluid in a substantially uniform flow pattern through the packet toward an outlet from a supporting tray.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to coffee brewers for brewing coffee fromcoffee bean grind.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Brewed beverages such as hot coffee have long been a favorite beverageof consumers at home, on the job and during times of relaxation. As themarket for brewed beverages has become more and more competitive, thetastes of consumers have become more discriminating.

It is long been recognized that the uniform flow of hot water throughthe coffee bean grind, tea leaves or the like is important to theefficient extraction of flavor for a palate pleasing brew. Numerousdifferent efforts have been made to improve the efficiency anduniformity of extraction. These efforts can be broken up generally intothe area of coffee brewers and espresso makers. Coffee brewers typicallyincorporate a heater for heating hot water to be flowed over the groundcoffee bean. The ground bean may be contained in a perforated basket,porous envelope defining a packet or sometimes for more complicatedautomated systems, dispensed in a chamber lined on the bottom with afiltration strip.

Examples of efforts to improve the coffee brewing process for a morepleasing end product include the careful measurement of the flow of hotwater to a brew basket carrying the coffee bean grind on a perforateddisk. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,114,063 to A. M.Stoner.

Other efforts have lead to the proposal of a piston actuated coffeebrewer for dispensing hot water through vertically spaced apartperforated plates having a packet of coffee bean grind containedtherebetween for the free flow of hot water therethrough. A device ofthis type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,529,395 to Hummel. Devices of thistype are relatively complicated, expensive to manufacture and fail tocontrollably direct the hot water through the coffee packet so as toensure relatively uniform flow throughout the coffee bean grind.

Other efforts have lead to the proposal of a coffee brew basket mountedto an overhead above a coffee decanter and including a perforated platefor receipt of the coffee grind with a distributing sieve disposed inspaced relation there above and intended to somewhat disperse the hotwater to be flowed over the coffee grind. A device of this patent isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,730 to Gockelmann. While satisfactory forthere intended use, such devices again fail to provide for the positiveuniform flow through the coffee grounds but, rather, would typicallyallow for the loose coffee grind to shift about under the force of theflow from the distributing sieve thus allowing for channeling orpreferential flow through specific areas of the grind without comparableflow through other areas of the grind.

Even other efforts have lead to a proposal of a brewing device includinga filter basket with a agitator disposed thereover for dispensing hotwater. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,520 toHaulsein and assigned to Alitta-Werke. Devices of this type have notgenerally gained acceptance in the market place.

Even further efforts have lead to a proposal that the coffee grinds beconstrained in a cylinder and compressed between upper and lowerperforated plates with a filter strip over the lower plate for strainingthe fluid and for disposing of the coffee grind when the piston isopened. A device of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,096 toKawabata. Such devices are relatively complicated, expensive tomanufacture and are not readily adaptable to every day use.

Other efforts to enhance the flavor of brewed coffee have led to thedevelopment of coffee brewers incorporating specially shaped brewbaskets and the like intended to control the flow of brewing water inhopes that a major portion of the water is fully distributed in a flowpattern around the interstices formed between loosely packed grind ofground coffee beans.

Discriminating customers have recognized the benefits of individualhelpings of fresh brewed coffee. To this end a device has been proposedwhich includes an upstanding discharge tube connected with acantileverally mounted discharge spout for dispensing hot water into afilter basket mounted on the top rim of a cup. A device of this type isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,090 to Woon et al. and is assigned toAlitta-Werke. While offering some benefits for individual brewing,devices of this type suffer the short coming that the hot brewing wateris not efficiently and positively distributed through the coffee grind.

Further efforts to provide a single serving or one cup coffee brewingdevice includes proposals for a heating bath, dispensing nozzle and someform of non-disposable filter, such as a metal screen of the type whichis intended to provide the necessary filtration.

Still efforts have led to the proposal a single cup coffee brewerincluding a plastic envelope for receiving the coffee grind and a pumpfor pumping water therethrough under pressure to break a frangibleclosure exposing a filter through which the brewing liquid is to beflowed.

Traditional single cup coffee brewers often include a drip filterdevice. Others have been proposed which include a screw type screen totrap the coffee grind so that hot water may be poured therein and to thescrew type screen unscrewed a couple of turns for subsequentintroduction of further hot brewing water.

In a somewhat related area, considerable work has been carried out ineffort to devise satisfactory espresso coffee brewers. Those devices aretypically relatively expensive and often involve high pressure steam,pressure sealing mechanisms and sophisticated mechanisms prone tofrequent maintenance problems. Such espresso devices often times involvea piston and cylinder arrangement for trapping the coffee grind insealed arrangement to force the brewing liquid therethrough fordispensation and to a espresso cup or the like. A device of this type isshown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,421,014 to Vicker.

Other devices have been proposed for brewing espresso coffee whichinclude an automatic turn table formed with apertures for selectivereceipt of espresso packets to have hot water or steam forcetherethrough. The turn table is then advanced to forward the aperture toa discharge location where a piston will drive the packet down throughthe bottom of the turn table. A device of this type is shown in U.S.Pat. No. 5,855,161 to Cortese. These espresso devices are typicallyrelatively expensive to manufacture, require some degree of skill foroperation and are prone to maintenance problems. Consequently, they aretypically not perceived as acceptable as coffee brewers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, the brewer of the present inventionincludes a coffee tower including a brew basket which may be in the formof a brew tray having a perforated horizontal bottom plate for supportof a packet of loose coffee grind. A perforated platen rests on thecoffee packet and a feed head supplies water to the platen to flow inthrough the platen perforations to be distributed in a controlled flowpattern through the coffee packet out through perforations in the bottomwall of the tray. In some embodiments the feed water is forced throughthe perforated platen under pressure to even further enhanceperformance. The tray may be sized for receiving the packet in closespaced relationship to support the walls of the wetted packet frombursting.

In the preferred embodiment, the platen is biased against the packet sothat water through the perforations in the platen is forced to pass in acontrolled pattern deep into the packet to holes in the bottom of thetray. The platen may be formed on its bottom side with seals tosealingly engage with the packet to more positively direct water flowinto the grind charge contained in the packet to thereby minimize anybypass around the packet. In the preferred embodiment, the platen iscarried from the bottom extremity of a vertically shiftable tube and isbiased downwardly by a coil spring.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of a preferredembodiment which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,illustrates by way of example the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of brewing apparatus embodying my newcoffee brewer;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view thereof;

FIG. 4 is a rear view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a right-hand side thereof;

FIG. 6 is a left-hand side thereof;

FIG. 7 is a partial vertical sectional view, enlarged scale, taken alongthe line 7—7 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8—8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 9—9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a detail view of a tray handle included in the brewer shownin FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is a partial side view taken along the line 11—11 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 12—12 ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the line 13—13 ofFIG. 7;

FIG. 14 is a partial vertical sectional view similar to FIG. 7 showingthe platen in its raised position;

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 15—15 of FIG.14; and

FIG. 16 is a diagramatic view of a second embodiment of the beveragebrewing apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The coffee brewer of the present invention includes, generally, abrewing apparatus in the form of a brewer 21 (FIG. 1) having a base 23configured with a forwardly projecting table 25 disposed under an overhang 27 which mounts a tray hanger 30 carrying a coffee packet holder inthe form of a tray assembly 29. Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, and stillspeaking generally, the tray assembly 29 includes a tray device 31, forreceipt of a packet 33, of coffee grind 37 to be pressed under a platen41. The tray device 31 includes a false bottom defining a distributionplate 45 configured with a pattern of through openings 47 whichcooperate with a pattern of through openings 51 in the platen 41 todirect hot water from a feed head, generally designated 55, through suchholes 51, through the packet 33 and out such distribution wall 45 to begathered in a cup 57 or other container (FIG. 7).

The brewing apparatus 21 may be in the form of a brewing tower having aheat sink tank 61 for connection to a water supply to receive and storewater to be heated. A hot water spigot 63 is typically connected with awater tank by a mounting tube 65 for drawing off of hot water for tea orthe like. A heating coil is typically submerged in the tank 61 and mayhave its outlet connected with a flexible supply tube 71 (FIG. 7) forsupplying hot water to brew the coffee.

The overhang 27 may mount a brewing basket, funnel or other deviceacting as a tray for receiving and holding the coffee packet 33. Asreferred to herein, the term tray and tray device is intended toencompass all such equivalents.

Referring to FIG. 7, the brewer 21 includes a downwardly opening hood,generally designated 87 disposed on the over hang 27 in alignment overthe tray. The hood 87 is formed in the forward section of its top wallwith a bore 93 through which a vertical retractor plunger stem 95projects to terminate in a head 96. Mounted to the bottom end of suchstem 95 is a vertical feeder tube 97. Such tube is formed in its sidewall with a threaded bore 99 into which a nipple 101 is threaded forconnection to the flexible water supply tube 71. The tube 97 istelescoped through an axial bearing 105 mounted in a bore formed in thetop wall 107 of the overhang to project downwardly and be formed at itsbottom extremity with an outwardly flared flange 109 that mounts aplenum bonnet 111. Such bonnet 111 is in the form of an inverted cup butelongated horizontally to form a plenum chamber 113 sized and configuredto capture thereunder the pattern of disbursement bores 51 formed in theplaten 41.

Received in telescopical relationship over the tube 97 and interposedbetween the bearing 105 and the bonnet 111 is a coil compression spring121 which, in its extended position shown in FIG. 7, exerts a force ofabout one pound downwardly on the bonnet and consequently the platen 41.Referring to FIG. 8, mounted under the overhang is channel shaped hangerconfigured on its bottom extremity in-turned lips 128 defining a trackfor slidably receiving the tray device.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 12, the tray device 31 is formed with acollector bottom wall 75 upwardly turned front back and side walls 121,123, 125 and 127 (FIG. 12) configured to receive in close fittingrelationship the periphery of the coffee grind packet 33 (FIGS. 7 & 8).In a preferred embodiment, the tray is approximately 2½′ inches wide and3½′ inches long. The coffee grind packet 33 may be custom made toclosely fit the interior of the tray and be retained by the side, backand front walls thereof to be supported against outward spreadingthereof in the lateral and forward rearward directions. The tray itselfis in the preferred embodiment, constructed with the collector bottomwall 75 lined by the false bottom distribution plate 45 and formedcentrally with an elongated trough 77 leading to a downwardly openingfunnel shaped dimple 79 terminating in a outlet opening 81 centered overthe container 57.

Referring to FIG. 7 mounted on the front of the tray is an L shapedangel handle 151 which is thermally insulated from such handle by meansof a thermal insulation strip 153 to minimize heat transfer from thetray to the handle.

In the preferred embodiment, the distribution plate 45 is a metallicplate serving as a false bottom in the tray and formed at its forwardextremity with an upturned tongue 131 forming the forward wall of thetray compartment and turned back to form a rearwardly projecting lip 133underneath which the forward extremity of packet 33 may be trapped asshown in FIG. 7. The rearward corners of such plate may be turned downslightly to contact the bottom wall 75 of the tray to cooperate inspacing the body of such plate about {fraction (1/64)}″ above suchbottom wall for ready flow of brewed water under the plate to collect inthe trough 77 (FIGS. 7 & 8).

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the platen 41 itselfmay take many different shapes and forms such as rectangular,triangular, circular, oval or any other convenient shape. In theexemplary embodiment, the platen is shown in plan view in FIG. 13rounded at its forward end and formed with its opposite sides taperinginwardly and rearwardly toward one another. Preferably, such platen isformed with downwardly depressed funnel shaped dimples 52 concentricwith the openings 51 to terminate at their respective bottom ends incircular edges which are pressed into the top side of the packet tosealingly engage therewith.

As shown in FIG. 12, the disbursement plate 45 is formed with the holes47 arranged in a pattern defining three longitudinal rows of four,spaced laterally apart. The pattern of holes 51 in the platen 41 arealso arranged in a rectangular pattern with three on a side such thatwhen disposed in compressing relationship over the packet 33 the waterflowing through such holes will, while being disbursed through thecoffee bean grind, tend to flow in a disbursement pattern which isgenerally rectangular and will flow through and through the outletdisbursement holes 47 such that the generally rectangular pattern of thearrangement of holes cooperate to maintain a generally rectangularoverall pattern of flow which compliments the rectangular shape of thepacket 33 and the rectangular tray 31.

As it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art the pattern ofholes in the platen 41 and disbursement wall 45 may take many differentshapes and forms, it only important that they cooperate together tofacilitate a relatively thorough wash of the grind in the packet 33. Asan example, if the tray where in a form of a circular or oval basket, itwould be preferred that the holes be likewise arranged in a circular oroval pattern as the case may be.

Mounted to the rear of the hanger 31 is a platen catch device, generallydesignated 161 (FIGS. 14 and 15) for selectively catching the rear edgeof the platen to hold it in an elevated position. Such catch deviceincludes a laterally projecting pivot strip 165 terminating at itsopposite ends in respective tangs 167 for receipt in respective bores164 (FIGS. 9 and 11) formed in the opposite side walls of the hanger 31.Mounted on the front side of such pivot strip 165 and disposed centrallythereon is an upright catch post 171 which is weighted to tilt forwardlyat the top. The post is formed on its front edge with an upwardly andrearwardly angled cam surface 172 disposed in the path of the tray. Suchrearwardly inclined cam surface 172 terminates at its upper end in anotch 173 configured with a upwardly facing shoulder 175 which, when thetop end of the post is tilted forward as shown in FIG. 14, is disposedin the vertical path of the platen to engage under the rear extremity tohold such platen in its elevated position shown in FIG. 14 above the topextremity of the tray.

Mounted in the tank 61 is conventional plumbing and electrical circuitry(not shown), including control circuitry having an on/off switch 174(FIG. 4) and a central processing unit (CPU) which is operative toactuate a heater to heat the water bath and maintain such baths at anelevated temperature. Conveniently, the control circuit includes a startswitch connected with a vertical plunger rod 181 (FIG. 1) connected withone end of a control handle 183 carried from a fulcrum clevis 185 andhaving a handle grip 187 on the free extremity thereof. As will beappreciated, such handle simulates a pump handle.

In operation, the coffee brewer of the present invention may be poweredby actuating the on/off switch 174 to actuate the control circuitry andenergize the CPU and consequently, the water heater. Once the water isheated, the brewer is ready for the brewing process.

The head 96 of the plunger stem 95 carrying the inlet tube 97 may bdrawn upwardly to raise the platen 41 to the elevated position shown inFIG. 14. I will appreciated that the rear edge of such the platen 41will ride upwardly on the cam surface 172 of the catch post to the pointwhere the platen is of the same elevation as the shoulder 175, at whichtime such post 171 will tilt further forwardly at the top extremity tothe position shown in FIG. 14 thus engaging such shoulder under the rearedge of such platen to hold it in its elevated position. The handle 151of such tray may be grasped and to draw the tray forwardly out fromunder the platen to clear the hanger 31 and, if desired, be removedclear of the hanger. A grind packet 33 may then be selected and insertedin the tray to act as a basket for holding such packet. The tray may thebe reintroduced under the platen by sliding it into the hanger 31 toshift it rearwardly under the platen causing the rear end thereof toengage the cam surface 172. The as the tray is pushed furtherrearwardly, the post 171 will be rotated in the clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 14 about the pivot axis defined by the tangs 167 (FIG.15) thus driving the upper extremity of the post rearwardly to theposition in FIG. 7. As the tray reaches the point where it is alignedunder the platen the post will have been rotated rearwardly to releasesuch platen, once the shoulder 175 clears the rear edge of such platenwill be to free to be driven downwardly onto the packet 33 bygravitational force combined with the spring 121. This then serves topress the packet firmly in place in the tray with the grind having adepth of about, as an example ⅛″.

The handle 183 may then be actuated by pressing downwardly on the grip187 to raise the actuating plunger 181 to close the actuation switch tocommunicate water through a conventional heat exchange coil and out theflex tube 171 into the feed tube 97 (FIG. 7). Such water will then flowdownwardly in such tube into the plenum chamber and through the platenopenings 41. As the water pump fills up the pressure in such plenumchamber, the water will be forced downwardly through the grind in thepacket 33 from where it will seek to escape via the pattern ofdisbursement holes 47 in the distribution wall 45.

It will be appreciated the weight of the platen, feeder tube and theforce of the coil spring 121 will serve to force the platen downwardlythus driving the bottom ends of the dimples 52 positively into the topwall of the packet 33 thus forming respective seals therewith such thatdisbursing water is forced into the packet thereby preventing escapeacross the top surface of the packet which may otherwise result inbypass of the grind within such packet. The water will be forced througha series of tributary—like flow paths, circulating about the grinds in arelatively uniform flow pattern to escape out the openings in thedistribution platen to be gathered thereunder and flow down the troughto the outlet opening 81. It will also be appreciated that the platenmay be turned downwardly at its peripheral edges to form a peripheralseal to cooperate with the dimples 52 or, in lieu thereof, to cooperatein directing water into the packet.

As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the rectangularpattern of the flow from the platen holes 51 will be directed to a greatextent in a rectangular pattern substantially uniformly through thepacket toward the rectangular pattern of holes 47 in the distributionplate thus providing for positive washing of the grind within the packet33. Obviously, some of the hot water will concurrently flow to the otherareas of the grind within such packet thus resulting in a relativelyeffective and complete wash of flavor from such grind.

As the grind is wetted it will expand thus enlarging the overall volumeof the grind within the packet causing the volume of the packet itselfto grow. As the volume of grind grows, the walls of the tray willsupport peripheral walls of the packet against lateral and forwardly andrearwardly expansion thus providing support against the walls of thepacket themselves bursting the increased volume. Meanwhile, the spring121 will accommodate such growth allowing the platen 33 to be raised asthe volume of the grind grows thereby minimizing any tendency of thegrowth to place excess stress on the packet and burst the walls of thepacket but still maintaining a positive pressure downwardly on theplaten to maintain effective sealing engagement between such platen andthe top surface of the packet.

A control meter within the flow circuit will control flow of the waterto efficiently and effectively extract the desired flavoring from thegrind and fill the coffee cup 57. When a sufficient volume of water hasbeen dispensed to fill the cup 57, or other container selected, to thedesired level, the flow control meter will close the control valve inthe plumbing to discontinue flow. The user may then remove the cup andenjoy a helping of freshly brewed coffee.

The plunger head 96 may then be grasped to raise the feeder tube 97 andconsequently the platen 33 to free the tray to be removed for removableof the spent packet 33. The next user may then insert a new packet ofcoffee of the desired flavor and promptly repeat the process. As will beappreciated by those skilled in the art, the reserve of heat in thewater within the tank 61 will typically provide sufficient heat toprovide eight to ten cups of water to be consecutively drawn from theheat exchange tube in rapid succession without any extensive delay intime for reheating of the water bath. This then allows for the brewer totypically stand ready for dispensing of water for efficient andeffective brewing of the coffee.

The brewing apparatus of the present invention may take many differentforms. The device may be incorporated, in, for instance, a claimactuated coffee dispenser where the basket for tray is mounted over acup table which will receive a dispensed cup since the apparatus mayinclude an automatic packet dispenser which is responsive coins, bills,or credit cards or the like of the selected denomination to dispense aselected packet into the tray or basket and the platen automaticallylowered into position constraining the packet within the tray. Further,it will be recognized that the feed head formed by the plenum chamberand platen holes 51 may take many different forms, including an openfeed head to spray water under gravity flow for flowing through thepacket and trapped under the platen or any other desirable configurationknown to those skilled in the art or which may be developed in thefuture.

The shape and construction of the tray holding device and the trayitself may also take many different forms. The tray holding device maybe in the form of a hanger, hook, plate or any other desired support.The tray may be in the form of a basket or any other coffee packetholding mechanisms presently known to those working in the art or whichmight be developed in the future. It will be appreciated that the sizeand the shape of the tray itself may take many different forms. It maybeeleptical, cylindrical or any other desired shape to facilitateefficient brewing from the coffee bean grind. The shape andconfiguration of the platen may also vary. The holes in the platen mayvary shape, configuration and in their pattern. As an example, the holesmay be arrayed in a eleptical, round or any other desired pattern suchas Figure “8” to provide for efficient disbursement of the water forcedto spray therethrough. While there is benefit to the pattern of holes inthe platen complimenting the horizontal shape of the tray and thepattern of the holes in the false bottom thereof, such pattern may varyin many different configurations that will be apparent to those skilledin the art and which will be effective to provide for efficient andeffective brewing. Such holes may be formed by corregations, grooves orother fluid dispensing structure which will serve to provide forpreferential release of the brewed fluid from the packet from disbursedpoints and locations across the bottom of the packet. The termdistribution holes used here is intended to encompass plates with allsuch constructions, whether acting as the bottom wall for the trayopening directly downwardly on a decanter or cap or as a false bottom asspecifically described herein.

The coffee brewer apparatus shown in FIG. 16 is similar to that setforth in FIGS. 1-15 except that it is a smaller model and includes aflow through heating device. The apparatus, generally, includes ahousing or cabinet 201 which houses a water heater tube 203 that isabout 2 inches in diameter and about 8 inches long. The heater tube 203forms a cylindrical water tank in which is mounted a heating coil 207connected in circuit with the control switch 174. The tube 203 holdsabout 8 ounces of water and the heating coil 207 produces about 1800watts of heat to thus maintain the water at about 200°. It has beenfound that the device will brew a generous cup of coffee inapproximately one minutes time. The pressurized water line is connectedwith the heating tube 203 through a control valve 213 controlled by apush button control 215 to control flow through meter 217 into the inletof such heating tube 203. The outlet of such heating tube is connectedto the tube 65 to the spray head 63.

With this apparatus, when it is desirable to brew a single cup ofcoffee, the switch button 215 may be depressed to actuate the valve 213an open such valve for a selected period of time as dictated by acontroller (not shown) to introduce pressurized water and to the heatertube 203. Such pressurized water will replace a volume of heated watercorresponding with the volume of a cup 57 causing such heated water tobe driven through the tube 65 for flow through the grind packet anddispersing openings.

From the foregoing it would be apparent that the coffee brewingapparatus and method of the present invention provide a highly effectivemeans for efficiently extracting a flavor from coffee grind to make fulluse of the grind while providing for rapid brewing.

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious modifications can be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that theinvention be limited except by the appended claims.

1. A beverage brewer for brewing a beverage from a grind in a porouswall packet of a predetermined shape and comprising: a brew deviceincluding a beverage container table for receiving a beverage containerand an overhead mounting a feed head spaced there above for emittingbrewing liquid; a tray holder mounted below the feed head; an upwardlyopening tray carried from the holder and including a perforateddistribution plate and upstanding side walls defining a compartmentconfigured to receive the packet with one side facing upwardly; a platencarried from the overhead, sized to be received in such compartment,formed with a pattern of dispersing openings arrayed there across forflow of liquid from such feed head to be dispersed over such one side ofsuch packet; and a spring biasing the platen downwardly.
 2. The beveragebrewer of claim 1 wherein: the platen is biased downwardly against thepacket with sufficient force to compress the grind tending to force itlaterally outwardly; and the tray is configured with the side wallscooperating to complimentary receive the packet in close fitrelationship to support the sides of the packet as the platen is biaseddownwardly to force the charge laterally outwardly.
 3. The beveragebrewer of claim 1 wherein: the holder includes a horizontal track; thetray is in the form on an open top box received slidably on the trackand operable to be slid from a brew position under the feed head to aloading position clear of such feed head.
 4. The beverage brewer ofclaim 1 for use with a packet having, when received in the tray ahorizontal periphery of a selected configuration and wherein: the platenis formed with the openings arrayed in a pattern complimenting theselected configuration.
 5. The beverage brewer of claim 1 for use with apacket formed with a rectangular selected configuration and wherein: theplaten is formed with the openings arrayed a rectangular pattern.
 6. Thebeverage brewer of claim 1 wherein: the platen is formed on itsunderside with respective seals surrounding the respective openings forengaging and sealing against the one side of the packet.
 7. The beveragebrewer of claim 1 that includes: a vertical tube mounted from suchoverhead for vertical reciprocation with respect thereto and mountingthe platen at the bottom extremity thereof.
 8. The beverage brewer ofclaim 1 wherein: the spring is a coil spring disposed coaxially aboutthe tube to bias the platen downwardly.
 9. The beverage brewer of claim7 that includes: a flexible fluid conduit connected on one end with thetube and wherein; the tube is connected with the feed head.
 10. Thebeverage brewer of claim 1 wherein: the spring is operative to bias theplaten downwardly with a substantially one pound of force.
 11. Thebeverage brewer of claim 1 that includes: a catch device for locking theplaten in an elevated position relative to the tray.
 12. The beveragebrewer of claim 1 that includes: a feed tube for feeding hot water; abonnet connecting the outlet of the tube with the platen.
 13. Thebeverage brewer of claim 12 wherein: the bonnet covers the dispersingopenings and cooperates with such platen to form a plenum chamber forcontaining water to be dispersed out the openings.
 14. The beveragebrewer of claim 1 wherein: the platen is formed with such openingsarrayed thereabout in a pattern complimenting the shape of suchcompartment.
 15. The beverage brewer of claim 12 that includes: avertical tube movably mounted from the overhang for vertical travelrelative thereto; the platen being mounted to the lower extremity ofsuch tube for vertical upward shifting as the grind swells.
 16. Thebeverage brewer of claim 13 that includes: a stem projecting upwardlyfrom the tube and including a hand grasp to be grasped for raising ofthe platen off the packet.
 17. The beverage brewer of claim 13 wherein:the spring is a compression coil spring biasing the platen downwardlytoward the tray.
 18. A brewer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: thedistribution plate includes distribution holes in the platen and in thebottom wall of the tray.
 19. The beverage brewer of claim 1 wherein: thespring is a single spring located centrally over the platen.
 20. Thebeverage brewer of claim 1 that includes: a heat exchange tube connectedwith the feed head; and a heater disposed in heat relationship with suchtube.
 21. The beverage brewer of claim 20 that includes: a feed lineconnected with such tube; and a meter for metering the flow of brewingfluid through such heating tube.
 22. A coffee brewer comprising: a towerincluding a container table and an overhang spaced there above; a coffeepacket including a porous envelope containing a sufficiently largecharge of coffee grind to fill such envelope to a selected depth, suchgrind being responsive to moisture to swell and increase such selecteddepth; a feed head mounted on the tower for applying water to suchpacket; a tray interposed between the feed head and configured with acompartment sized to support the lateral sides of such envelope againstlateral outward expansion, the tray further including a perforatedbottom wall; a platen resting on the packet and formed with disbursementopening for receipt and flow of water from the feed head to dispersewater down through the interstices formed between such grind and throughthe perforations in such bottom wall; and a spring biasing the platendownwardly against such packet to maintain such platen pressed againstsuch packet as water is flowed from feed head through the openings intothe charge of coffee grind.
 23. A beverage brewer for brewing a beveragefrom a grind in a porous wall packet and comprising: a brew deviceincluding a tray holder; an upwardly opening tray carried from theholder and including a perforated distribution plate and upstanding sidewalls defining a compartment configured to receive the packet; a platendisposed over the tray, sized to be received downwardly in thecompartment, shiftable between a retracted position disposed above thecompartment and a working position received in such compartment toengage the packet in such compartment, the platen including dispersingopenings for flow of liquid; a feed head located above such tray andarrange to spray liquid into such compartment; and a spring for biasingthe platen downwardly against The packet in such compartment.
 24. Abeverage brewer for brewing a beverage from a grind in a porous wallpacket and comprising: a brewer housing; a liquid distribution head fordistributing liquid downwardly through a flow path; a container in theflow path for receiving liquid from the distribution head; a trayinterposed in the flow path above the container and having in anupwardly opening compartment for receipt of the packet to be positionedin such flow path to receive flow from the head, the tray including aperforated bottom wall; a platen carded from such brewer housing overthe tray and configured to be moved between an elevated position and alowered position pressing on the packet disposed in such container thatplaten being biased downwardly to the lowered position; and a retractoracting independent of fluid flow for retracting such platen from itslowered position to its elevated position whereby the retractor may beactivated to retract the tray, the packet placed in the tray and therefractor activated to release the platen to be lowered independent offluid flow through the distribution head to be pressed against thepacket and thereafter fluid flowed through the distribution head.
 25. Abeverage brewer for brewing a beverage from a grind in a porous wallpacket of a predetermined shape and comprising: a brew device includinga beverage container table for receiving a beverage container and anoverhead mounting a feed head spaced there above for emitting brewingliquid; an tray holder mounted below the feed head; an upwardly openingtray carried from the holder and including a perforated distributionplate and upstanding side walls defining a compartment configured toreceive the packet with one side facing upwardly; a platen carried fromthe overhead, sized to be received in such compartment, formed with apattern of dispersing openings arrayed there across for flow of liquidfrom such feed head to be dispersed over such one side of such packet,such platen further being biased downwardly; and a catch device forlocking the platen in an elevated position relative to the tray.
 26. Acoffee brewer for brewing coffee grind contained in a packet with aporous envelope and comprising; a brew tower including a container tablewith an overhang disposed thereover; feed head means on the overhang;tray means interspersed between the feed head means and the table andincluding constraining means for constraining the packet from expandinghorizontally; platen means; spring means for mechanically biasing theplaten downwardly; and flow distribution means in the platen means andtray means for directing flow from such feed head to be distributedsubstantially evenly through the grind in the packet toward the table.27. A method of brewing a beverage from a grind in a porous wall packetincluding: selecting a brewing device including a holding device forholding a porous wall packet of grind and having a perforated bottomwall; selecting a perforated platen and a spring; employing the springto press the perforated platen downwardly on such packet; flowing fluidthrough the perforated platen, packet and out the perforations in thebottom wall to distribute flow essentially evenly through the packetwhile the packet is compressed between the platen and bottom wall; andraising the platen against the bias of the spring to release the packet.28. The method of claim 27 that includes: flowing fluid around theperiphery of the platen.
 29. A one cup beverage brewer for brewing abeverage from a grind in a porous wall packet of a predetermined shapecontaining a quantity of such grind sufficient to brew a one cupbeverage and comprising: a brew device including a beverage containertable for receiving a coffee cup and an overhead mounting a feed headspaced there above for emitting brewing liquid; a tray holder mountedbelow the feed head; an upwardly opening tray carried from the holderand including a perforated distribution plate and upstanding side wallsdefining a compartment configured to receive the packet with one sidefacing upwardly; a platen carded from the overhead, sized to be receivedin such compartment, formed with a pattern of dispersing openingsarrayed there across for flow of liquid from such feed head to bedispersed over such one side of such packet, such platen further beingbiased downwardly; and a catch device a for locking the platen in anelevated position relative to the tray.
 30. The one cup beverage brewerof claim 29 wherein: the platen is biased downwardly against the packetwith sufficient force to compress the grind tending to force itlaterally outwardly; and the tray is configured with the side wallscooperating to complementary receive the packet in close fitrelationship to support the sides of the packet as the platen is biaseddownwardly to force the charge laterally outwardly.
 31. The one cupbeverage brewer of claim 29 wherein: the holder includes a horizontaltrack; and the tray is in the form on an open top box received slidablyon the track and operable to be slid from a brew position under the feedhead to a loading position clear of such feed head.
 32. The one cupbeverage brewer of claim 29 for use with a packet having, when receivedin the tray, a horizontal periphery of a selected configuration andwherein: the platen is formed with the openings arrayed in a patterncomplimenting the selected configuration.
 33. The one cup beveragebrewer of claim 32 for use with a packet formed with a rectangularselected configuration and wherein: the platen is formed with theopenings arrayed a rectangular pattern.
 34. The one cup beverage brewerof claim 29 wherein: the platen is formed on its underside withrespective seals surrounding the respective openings for engaging andsealing against the one side of the packet.
 35. The one cup beveragebrewer of claim 29 that includes: a vertical tube mounted from suchoverhead for vertical reciprocation with respect thereto and mountingthe platen at the bottom extremity thereof.
 36. The one cup beveragebrewer of claim 35 that includes: a coil spring disposed coaxially aboutthe tube to bias the platen downwardly.
 37. The one cup beverage brewerof claim 35 that includes: a flexible fluid conduit connected on one endwith the tube and wherein the tube is connected with the feed head. 38.The one cup beverage brewer of claim 29 wherein: the platen is biaseddownwardly with a substantially one pound of force.
 39. The one cupbeverage brewer of claim 29 that includes: a feed tube for feeding hotwater; and a bonnet connecting the outlet of the tube with the platen.40. The one cup beverage brewer of claim 39 wherein: the bonnet coversthe dispersing openings and cooperates with such platen to form a plenumchamber for containing water to be dispersed out the openings.
 41. Theone cup beverage brewer of claim 39 wherein: the platen is formed withsuch openings arrayed thereabout in a pattern complimenting the shape ofsuch compartment.
 42. The one cup beverage brewer of claim 39 thatincludes: a vertical tube movably mounted from the overhang for verticaltravel relative thereto; and the platen being mounted to the lowerextremity of such tube for vertical upward shifting as the grind swells.43. The one cup beverage brewer of claim 40 that includes: a stemprojecting upwardly from the tube and including a hand grasp to begrasped for raising of the platen off the packet.
 44. The one cupbeverage brewer of claim 40 that includes: bias means biasing the platenmeans downwardly toward the tray means.
 45. The beverage brewer of claim29 that includes; a heat exchange tube connected with the feed head; anda heater disposed in heat relationship with such tube.
 46. The beveragebrewer of claim 45 that includes a feed line connected with such tube;and a meter for metering the flow of brewing fluid through such heatingtube.
 47. A one cup beverage brewer for brewing a beverage from a grindin a porous wall packet of a predetermined shape containing a quality ofsuch grind to brew a one cup beverage and comprising: a brew deviceincluding a beverage container table for receiving a coffee cup and anoverhead mounting a feed head spaced there above for emitting brewingliquid; a tray holder mounted below the feed head; an upwardly openingtray carried from the holder and including a perforated distributionplate and upstanding side walls defining a compartment configured toreceive the packet with one side facing upwardly; and a platen carriedfrom the overhead, sized to be received in such compartment, and tocooperate with the upstanding side walls to define a clearance spacebetween the peripheral edges of the platen and side walls, formed with apattern of dispersing openings arrayed there across for flow of liquidfrom such feed head to be dispersed over such one side of such packet,such platen further being biased downwardly.
 48. The one cup beveragebrewer of claim 47 that includes: a spring biasing such platendownwardly.
 49. A one cup coffee brewer comprising: a tower including acontainer table and an overhang spaced there above; a coffee packetformed by a porous envelope containing a sufficiently large charge ofcoffee grind to fill such envelope to a selected depth, and to brew onecup of coffee such grind being responsive to moisture to swell andincrease such selected depth; a feed head mounted on the tower forapplying water to such packet; a tray interposed between the feed headand configured with a compartment sized to support the lateral sides ofsuch envelope against lateral outward expansion, the tray furtherincluding a perforated bottom wall; a platen resting on the packet andformed with disbursement openings for receipt and flow of water from thefeed head to disperse water down through the interstices formed betweensuch grind and through the perforations in such bottom wall; and aspring biasing the platen downwardly against such packet to maintainsuch platen pressed against such packet as water is flowed from feedhead through the openings into the charge of coffee grind.
 50. A one cupcoffee brewer comprising: a tower including a container table forreceiving a coffee cup and an overhang disposed thereover; a feed headmounted on the overhang; a tray interposed between the feed head andtable for receipt of a packet of coffee grind; a platen for floatablereceipt on the packet when received in the tray; and flow distributionmeans including distribution holes in the platen and in the bottom wallof the tray for receiving fluid flow from the feed head to direct it incontrolled flow distribution through the packet toward the table. 51.The one cup beverage brewer of claim 50 that includes: the distributionmeans includes bias means biasing the platen toward the bottom wall ofthe tray.
 52. A one cup beverage brewer for brewing a beverage from apredetermined charge of grind of quantity sufficient to brew a one cupbeverage and comprising: a brew device including a beverage containertable for receiving a beverage container and an overhead mounting a feedhead spaced there above for emitting brewing liquid; a tray holdermounted below the feed head; an upwardly opening tray carried from theholder and including a perforated distribution plate and upstanding sidewalls defining a compartment configured to receive the charge of grind;a platen carried from the overhead, sized to be received in suchcompartment, formed with a pattern of dispersing openings arrayed thereacross for flow of liquid from such feed head to be dispersed over suchgrind; and a spring biasing the platen downwardly.
 53. A one cupbeverage brewer for brewing a beverage from a predetermined charge ofgrind sufficient to brew a one cup beverage and comprising: a brewdevice including a beverage container table for receiving a beveragecontainer and an overhead mounting a feed head spaced there above foremitting brewing liquid; a tray holder mounted below the feed head; anupwardly opening tray carried from the holder and including a perforateddistribution plate and upstanding side walls defining a compartmentconfigured to receive the charge of grind; a platen carried from theoverhead, sized to be received in such compartment, formed with apattern of dispersing openings arrayed there across for flow of liquidfrom such feed head; and a catch device for locking the platen in anelevated position relative to the tray.
 54. A one cup coffee brewercomprising: a tower including a container table and an overhang disposedthereover; a feed head mounted on the overhang; a holder for receiving acharge of coffee grind; a platen for floatable receipt on the coffeegrind in the compartment: a spring biasing the platen downwardly; andflow distribution means in the platen and tray for receiving fluid flowfrom the feed head to direct it in controlled flow distribution throughthe packet toward the table.
 55. A one cup beverage brewer for brewing abeverage grind in a porous wall packet and comprising: a brew devicehousing including a container mounting table with a feed head disposedthereover for flowing brewing fluid toward the container; a coffeepacket holding device including a perforated distribution plate for flowof fluid and upstanding side walls defining a compartment for receipt ofthe packet; a platen carried from the brewing device housings over theholder device and formed with a peripheral configuration complimentingthe configuration of the side walls and cooperating therewith to form aperimetric clearance space, the platen including a pattern dispersingopenings arrayed there across for flow of fluid from the feed head to bedispersed over through the packet toward the perforations in thedistribution plate; and such platen being biased downwardly toward thedistribution plate.